Bowl Projections 2013: Updated Predictions for BCS Games

Is there a better way for this current BCS system to go out than the chaotic scene we have now?

Just one year away from the four-team playoff, the rightful participants for the BCS title game will almost undoubtedly be a hotly debated topic.

Who will be No. 2 on Monday?

Ohio StateAuburnSubmit Votevote to see results

Who will be No. 2 on Monday?

Ohio State

50.9%

Auburn

49.1%

Total votes: 2,318

Things got a little wild on Saturday.

First, No. 3 Ohio State escaped its rivalry game with Michigan with a 42-41 win. That didn't come, however, until after the Buckeyes intercepted a pass on a two-point conversion with just over 30 seconds left in the game.

That was followed by an even wilder finish in the Iron Bowl.

No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Auburn were tied when time in regulation ran out. As fate would have it, time didn't really expire. After a review, it was ruled that Alabama had the ball out of bounds with one second left on the clock.

So, Nick Saban elected to attempt a 57-yard field goal as the clock expired.

The attempt didn't make it out of the end zone, and Auburn's Chris Davis took the ball to the house to hand Auburn the win.

Now, it is back to the drawing board when projecting the BCS bowl games. Here is how I currently have things shaking out:

Langford's BCS Bowl Projections

BCS Game

Date

Location

Matchup

Prediction

Rose Bowl

Jan. 1

Pasadena, Calif.

Big Ten/BCS vs. Pac-12/BCS

Ohio State vs. Arizona State

Fiesta Bowl

Jan. 1

Glendale, Ariz.

Big 12/BCS vs. BCS

Oklahoma State vs. Oregon

Sugar Bowl

Jan. 2

New Orleans, La.

SEC/BCS vs. BCS

Auburn vs. UCF

Orange Bowl

Jan. 3

Miami, Fla.

ACC/BCS vs. BCS

Clemson vs. Michigan State

BCS Title Game

Jan. 6

Pasadena, Calif.

BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2

Alabama vs. Florida State

As I'm sure you noticed, I have the Buckeyes on the wrong side of the BCS title game.

The Wolverines entered Saturday's game as a sinking ship. Ohio State was at least a two-touchdown favorite at almost any place you could find betting lines.

In the end, the Buckeyes escaped by the skin of their teeth, and this team has almost no margin for error. The Buckeyes have a weak strength of schedule. This has kept them comfortably behind undefeated schools Alabama and Florida State in the rankings, and it leaves them in jeopardy of being passed by a one-loss school.

Most notably, either Auburn or Missouri.

Missouri has a game with Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M later on Saturday, but if it survives that one, I see the winner of the SEC Championship Game earning the bid to the BCS title game.

Also, Alabama is now done with its regular season, and the Crimson Tide will not be punished too severely in the polls for losing on the last play on the road to the No. 4 team in the nation.

The BCS has shied away from teams that have lost their conference championship games in the past. That is why I have Auburn in the Sugar Bowl over Missouri—my predicted loser of the SEC Championship Game.

At this point, the only thing that is clear when it comes to the race for the BCS title game is that there is going to be at least one jaded team left out of the title game.